GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) – The 486-mile Colorado Trail between Denver and Durango is adding 80 miles of trail through the Collegiate Peaks, which is home to a dozen mountains topping 14,000 feet.

The Colorado Trail Foundation says the Collegiate West route offers Colorado Trail users a western alternative to an existing 80-mile stretch of trail on the eastern side of the Collegiate Peaks south of Leadville.

The new section also is part of the 3,000-mile Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that runs from Canada to Mexico.

Bearcreek Surveying recently issued a revised CT Mapbook and a smaller set of supplemental maps of the Collegiate Loop for folks like me who already have the Map Book. Both are available from the store at the CTF website. I ordered mine on Monday.

Yup, the CT Foundation announced the addition last fall I believe. Good on them for adopting a section of the CDT, especially with the amazing work the foundation and its members put in maintaining the trail. I plan on knocking out the additional 80 sometime this summer.

I used the latest Bearcreek GPS waypoint files to make an elevation plot of the entire loop, starting from Twin Lakes and going south towards Monarch Pass. The Collegiate West (CDT) is in black; the east (CT) side is red. Note the difference in elevations. The horizontal red line is at 10,000 feet.

Here's the official CTF route showing the added western side to form the Collegiate Loop.

I wonder what percentage of people will now take the new section? I'm going to do a couple of weeks of section hiking on the CT this summer and have been leaning toward using the west route. Since I'm only going to be out a week at a time, I don't have to re-supply and haven't looked at the routes with that in mind. Not sure if that would have an influence on way or the other for thru-hikers.

"I don't have to re-supply and haven't looked at the routes with that in mind. Not sure if that would have an influence on way or the other for thru-hikers."

This is a good point Randy. There are two upsides to the Eastern route

1. Easy resupply in Princton Hot Springs.

2. Easier hiking

The downsides are

1. Road walks

2. Lower elevation and less of a wilderness feel.

I think the Western route is going to be better. However if you are in a hurry or dealing with lots of weather the eastern route might be a good option. It wasn't my favorite part of the trail but it wasn't horrible.